Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 20.28

In our last post, we considered what the above scripture teachers regarding the work of elders. In this article, we shall consider the group with whom and among which the elders perform their duties: the local congregation. In the New Testament, the most common description of the People of God is “the Church.” The word church does not refer to a building, or to a man-made organization. Today we hear about “the Baptist Church” or “the United Methodist Church” – these expressions refer to human organizations and nothing like this appears anywhere in the New Testament.

In the Bible, the word church means “congregation.” In Alexander Campbell’s Living Oracles, the Greek word ecclesia is always translated congregation. So, Jesus says, “Upon this rock I will build my congregation” (Matthew 16.18) and Paul writes, “the congregations of Christ salute you” (Romans 16.16). This is a good and accurate translation and the word church should always be defined and understood in this way.

The Scripture teaches that all of God’s People (i.e. all Christians in all the world) are part of “the Great Congregation” (Psalm 22.25). Sometimes this is called “the Universal Church.” But even a casual reading of the New Testament reveals that every Christian was also a part of a local congregation (i.e. “the congregation, or church at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1.2); “the congregation, or church that meets in Philemon’s house” (Philemon 1.2)).

When a person is saved, Jesus adds him or her to the Great Congregation (Acts 2.47). After baptism, it is the responsibility of the new Christian to join himself or herself to a local congregation as a member (Acts 9.26). If a Christian relocates from one place to another, it is necessary that he or she join with a congregation in that area and become a member of that local body (Acts 11.25-26). It is God’s expressed will for every Christian to be a part of a local congregation. If a Christian chooses to remain separate from a congregation, that is a sin. It is impossible to be a faithful member of the Church without being a part of a local congregation

The Temple of God

One reason that every Christian must be a member of a local congregation is to worship. Worship is not universal, but local. The apostle Paul says that Christians are to sing “to” and “with” “one another” (Colossians 3.16; Ephesians 5.19). God has appointed that prayer, singing, and teaching be done “when the whole church comes together into one place” (1 Corinthians 14.23). While it is possible to sing, pray, and teach outside of the assembly, God has commanded that all Christians do some singing, praying, and teaching in the assembly. In order to have the most intimate and special fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit, Christians must be joined together with the local congregation (Ephesians 2.21-22). If a Christian, who is physically able, does not assemble with a congregation or not a part of a congregation that Christian cannot offer acceptable worship to God (1 Peter 2.4-5). Concerning the Lord’s Supper and the collection for the saints, it is impossible to do these things in any sense unless one assembles with a congregation (Acts 20.7; 1 Corinthians 11.20; 1 Corinthians 16.1-2).

The Flock of God

A second reason that every Christian must be a member of a local congregation is for spiritual safety and nourishment. The role of elders, as established in our last article, is to feed and protect the flock, which is the local congregation (Acts 20.28). One cannot enjoy the benefits of that sustenance or protection unless he or she is a part of the flock! The metaphor of a sheep is well chosen to describe the Christian. “Sheep without a shepherd,” (Matthew 9.36) or “sheep wandering away from the fold” (Luke 15.4-6) is always a recipe for disaster because of the “ravenous wolves” (Acts 20.29) and “raging lions” (1 Peter 5.8) that roam about seeking whom they may devour. Any Christian who thinks that he or she can have a healthy and successful spiritual life alone, separated from any guidance or correction, has rejected the wisdom of God.

The Body of Christ

A third reason that every Christian must be a member of a local congregation is because our spiritual life and strength comes from being a part of a local body, and only when we are an active part of a local body can be productive for God.The universal and local church are so vitally connected and co-dependent that Paul refers to both with the same terminology (i.e. the body of Christ). Paul said to the congregation at Corinth: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12.27). Notice that Paul says “you” and does not include himself – therefore he cannot be referring here to the universal church, but rather the local congregation! The congregation at Corinth was the body of Christ in that community.Paul describes God’s plan for the co-operation and close relationship of church members by the metaphor of a physical body (the congregation) and its parts, such as the foot, eye, hear, or nose (the individual Christians who are members of the congregation). Paul says that one member is not a body (1 Corinthians 12.19) therefore a Christian who isolates himself or herself is not a part of the body of Christ. Every part of the body is important for the function of the body, and Paul reasons that the Christian whose relationship with the congregation is nominal or broken has crippled the body! Furthermore, if a member (for example an ear) is separated from the body, it will die! Just so, only when every member is receiving and supplying spiritual nourishment (Ephesians 4.15-16), can the body grow and be strong and the members be spiritually healthy.

​Paul says, “there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12.25-26). What Paul describes can only be real if the members are connected to the body. If one hits his finger with a hammer, the whole body suffers with the finger, just as Paul said. However, if the finger is severed from the body, and then hit with a hammer, the body no longer feels anything with the finger! Just so, in order for the body to supply the needs of the member, the member must be firmly and fully connected with the body.The Fellowship

​A fourth reason that every Christian must be a member of a local congregation is that fellowship is not possible apart from association with fellows. In Acts 2.42, the Bible says that when after the original Christians were baptized, “they continued steadfastly in… fellowship…” (Acts 2.42). Reading on, we find how that fellowship was manifest: 1) through worshiping together, 2) through evangelizing together, 3) through sacrificing for one another and offering benevolent assistance to those who had need, 3) through eating together from house to house. These acts of fellowship made all the people “have one heart and one soul” (Acts 4.32) and filled them with “gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2.46). The first building block in a scripturally organized congregation is a congregation of committed, consistent members, joined together in heart, mind, and function. - CED

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 20.28

The above words, spoken by the Apostle Paul to the elders of the Ephesian congregation, demonstrate the awesome gravity of the elders’ work and responsibility in the church. When a man becomes an elder, the Holy Spirit makes him an overseer or shepherd in the congregation wherein he is ordained. With this role comes a great, divine expectation and responsibility to which the elder is exhorted to always “take heed’ – that is to give earnest and unfailing attention.What is this lofty work that God has charged to elders?

In a previous post, we examined the various terms and titles used to describe and elder – to define what an elder is, officially. Each of those terms and titles also sheds tremendous light on the work of elders within a congregation (In the next post we shall consider what exactly a congregation is, according to the Bible, and how the congregation must regard the elder in order for God’s plan for organization to function).

One of the most important titles for elders in the New Testament is pastor, or shepherd. Only once is this word used as a noun in reference to Elders (Ephesians 4.11), most of the time it is a verb – that is an action word describing the work of an elder (Acts 20.28; 1 Peter 5.2). The analogy of shepherd and sheep to describe God’s ideal relationship between His people and those He appoints as leaders is very common in scripture. Reading some of the passages, we get a powerful and vivid picture of the elders' work (See Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34.1-23; John 10.11-14).

Below we shall examine the implied and expressed work of elders, as seen in the various titles used for them in the Scripture.

Elders - Rule

In our last article, we observed that the term elder was first used to describe the men Moses chose to help him govern the affairs of Israel. Later, the word described those also called “rulers” in the synagogue. That the same kind of role is intended for elders in the church is evident from the following scriptures:

“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13.17).

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5.17).

All of these scriptures imply some appointed authority. All authority is in and from Jesus, thus whatever authority elders have they have from Jesus and not from themselves. However, the scripture legislates the manner in which the elders are to exercise their authority – “not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5.2-3).

Overseers -Manage

In the previous post, we noted how this word, usually translated overseer or bishop in the New Testament, was used in other ancient Greek writings to describe provincial governors, choir conductors, and construction foremen. Thus, the work of the elder includes managerial and supervisorial duties.

For this reason, Paul gives as a qualification, that the elder be “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Timothy 3.4-5).

“The word overseer indicated to both Jew and Greek, that the persons so styled were appointed to superintend the affairs of the church to direct the activities of the members, to see that everything was done that should be done, and that it was done by the right person in the right time and in the right way.” – J. W. McGarvey

Shepherds – Protect and Feed

If you read suggested scriptures concerning the relationship between shepherds and sheep and how that relationship mirrors what God expects of the spiritual leaders of His people, you saw that the work of shepherds can be summarized in two words: protect and feed.

The shepherds of Palestine spent the whole year with the flock – leading it to the places where it could be nourished in safety – and most importantly protecting it: against the attacks of wild beasts from without and disciplining unruly rams within. The shepherd was even equipped with a rod – sometimes to serve as a weapon, sometimes to serve as a disciplinary tool.

To the Ephesian elders, Paul explains why constant, careful attention to their work was so vital: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20.29-30).

​To guard against dangers from without and within, the elder must master his rod of defense and discipline – the Bible. Thus, to Titus, Paul says that the elder must be a man, “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1.9).

For the elder, the Word is not only a rod, it is also a staff – to lead and guide the flock into the green pastures of truth where they can be nourished and strengthened – thereby growing in their love and loyalty to God. The elder must be, “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3.2). Teaching, of course, comes in many forms. It may be done publically or privately – but the elder must be equipped with the Bible knowledge and the mental and physical acumen to guide others to the truth.

These are the works of an elder, and whomever the congregation may select for this service, they must be men who are both able and willing to “take heed” – to give earnest and unfailing attention – to these tasks.

Certainly, we can see the need for elders and the dreadful instability that comes with their absence! Jesus said that sheep without a shepherd are bound to scatter (Matthew 9.36). No matter how hard a congregation may work and labor to grow, the growth will always falter, the work will always suffer from anemia if not absolute impotence, if there is no God appointed rule, management, protection, and nourishment. God help all his congregations to ordain elders according to His will! - CED